Policies
Policies and Procedure
2005/2006
Portage Public School
High School
Middle School/Transition Program
Attendance and Grade Policies for High School Students
Attendance Policy for Transition Students
Behavioral Expectation
Breakfast/Lunch Programs
Cancellation of Classes
Community Work Experience
Dress Code
Drops
Electronic Devices
Field Trips
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Graduation
Graduation Requirements
Hallway/Classroom Behavior
Illegal Paraphernalia
Illness and Medication
Incentives/Recognition Programs
Insurance
Lockers
Parking
Phone Use/Student Messages
Recreation/Events
Scholarships
Sexual Harassment and Intimidation
Signing Out
Skipping Class
Student Assistance
Student On Campus Care (SOCC)
Student Search And Seizure
Tardies
Tobacco
Transportation Issues
Tutoring Program
Visitations
Weapon Free Schools
High School
This program is designed for students who have officially dropped or transferred from their high school. It includes all classes that satisfy the requirements for graduation. There is an interview/intake session required in order to be eligible for the program, and a parent or guardian must be present. Students must take a placement test for reading, writing and math levels before they can be scheduled for classes. If you are interested in learning more about this program call Leslie Begnoche at 323-6771, Dawn Gregory at 323-6766 or Krista Wirt at 323-6768.
Middle School
A special program for students coming straight from middle school and students under sixteen years of age who have been unsuccessful in the high school environment. Middle School students are assigned all of the core curriculum classes in a self-contained classroom. Students placed here must complete at least one successful term, and or reach the age of 16, before they will be permitted to enter the High School program. There is an interview/intake session required in order to be eligible for these programs, and a parent or guardian must be present. Students must take a placement test for reading, writing and math levels before they can be scheduled for classes. If you are interested in learning about either of these programs call Dawn Gregory at 323-6766.
Attendance and Grade Policies for High School Students
Students are encouraged to attend all classes and should recognize that excessive absences will deter them from obtaining credit for their enrolled classes. There are no "excused" absences, regardless of the reason for the absences. Situations involving hospitalization or pregnancy will be dealt with on an individual basis according to an administration/teacher agreement.
Students with 9 absences or less will be eligible to receive the full credit the class offers. Students with 10-12 absences will be eligible to receive 1/2 of the amount of credit the class offers. Make-ups are left to the discretion of the teacher, and must be done before the student exceeds the limit.
As a guideline, students will earn credit for a class where they earn a grade of at least a "C" and attend at least 80 percent of the class time. Students are responsible for making up any work missed in accordance with the individual teacher's policy. Students will be allowed 10 school days following the end of a term to make up incomplete grades if they wish to receive credit.
The school year is divided into four terms. Mid-term progress reports are mailed home half way through each term. Final grades will be mailed to the student's home within two weeks after the end of the term. Students may also receive their grades in person in the High School office.
Students are responsible for their own attendance, and are encouraged to check with the high school office or with their teachers on a regular basis. The office cannot guarantee that a call will be made when students are missing from class, therefore parents are requested to call for information concerning their student's attendance. If you know that you will be gone for the day please call Janet at 323-6769. Back to contents
Attendance Policy for Students
Students under the age of 16 are required by law to attend school. Excessive absences may result in the student being regarded as truant and a truancy report filed with the county attendance officer. The parent/guardian will be notified if this occurs. The parent/guardian is responsible for having the student in attendance. Back to contents
Behavioral Expectation
It is very important for all students and staff to learn and work in a safe, secure, and caring environment. Students and staff members are expected to behave respectively and appropriately. Students who continually violate these principles may be placed on a Community High School contract. This contract will provide structure and clear academic, behavioral, and attendance expectations for each student. Failure to meet the guidelines of the contract may result in a reduced schedule or being dropped from the program. Back to contents
Breakfast/Lunch Programs
Free and reduced breakfast and lunches are available for those who qualify and applications are available from the high school office. Breakfast is available a la carte or students may buy the basic breakfast. Prices vary for the breakfast menu. Those students who leave campus to obtain lunch are expected to return on time for class. Returning late from lunch is not an acceptable excuse for tardiness. Off campus lunches are a privilege for students 16 years of age and older and can be revoked if they affect the students progress in school. Students under 16 years of age may not leave the building unless there is a prior arrangement and parental permission.
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Cancellation of Classes
If Portage Public Schools are closed, Portage Community High School day and evening classes will also be canceled. Students may find out about cancellations through local radio and television stations, the PPS web site, calling the PPS School Closing Hotline at 323-6800, or checking news updates on Portage Cable Access. In the event of a late occurring storm, evening teachers will try to contact all students if classes are to be delayed or canceled. Back to contents
Community Work Experience
This program is designed to offer credit for paid work experience, and to offer students the opportunity to extend their preparation for employment beyond the classroom. To qualify for enrollment in the program a student must have passing grades and excellent attendance. To actually receive credit the student must be passing all of their classes, and be within the attendance guidelines. Students meeting these requirements will receive a half credit in the elective area each term. Back to contents
Dress Code
Students are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and for the school setting. Students may not wear clothing with known gang symbols,profanity, or which promote drug/alcohol or tobacco use. A student may not wear items of clothing that are determined to be inappropriate and are a disruption to the educational environment. Students' clothing is not to be revealing, suggestive or otherwise distracting. Hats may be worn as long as that privilege is not abused. Back to contents
Drops
Students are expected to participate and complete all of the required work for a course. Should circumstances arise which would prevent a student from completing a course, the student should notify the high school office immediately. Those students who exceed the attendance guidelines and fail to communicate with their teacher will be dropped from the class. All students are encouraged to take a full load but it is acknowledged that circumstances may prevent this; therefore, students are asked to be reasonably sure of their capabilities, and responsibilities before enrolling in classes. Those students dropped from all classes during a school term will be placed at the bottom of an ongoing registration list and there may or may not be a slot for the student in the next term. Back to contents
Electronic Devices
Due to problems that have occurred electronic devices such as pagers, cell phones, walkmans and I-Pods will be confiscated if seen or heard. Back to contents
Field Trips
Many of our teachers will use field trips and community resources as part of their learning process. These trips will require little to no expense for the students. Transportation will be provided at little or no cost to the student. If there is a concern from the parent/guardian about this, they are encouraged to contact the high school office.
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Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
No Child Left Behind (section 9528) reuires student directory information to be made available to military recruiters and institutions of high education. Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) a student or his/her parents may request that information not be released without prior written consent. Here is the description of the FERPA requirements:
Schools may disclose, without consent, "directory" information such as a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school. Back to contents
Graduation
Commencement is held in the spring of each year to recognize and honor students who have met all of the requirements for high school completion. The ceremony takes place in the PNHS Auditorium with Portage Public School Board of Education members, special guest, and your family and friends. Students may have different requirement for graduation depending on age and/or date of enrollment into the program. Only those students that need 2.5 credits or less in their last term will be placed on the final graduation list. Prior to commencement there are activities such as prom, senior lunch, and end of the year assemblies. Announcements, class rings and caps/gowns are available to all students through the Jostens representative. All Graduation questions should be directed to Krista Wirt at 323-6768. Back to contents
Graduation Requirements
The Community High School requires 26 credits to graduate, with credits needed in English, Mathematics, Science, Government, Economics, Social Studies and Electives. Back to contents
Hallway/Classroom Behavior
Our building is the home for many other programs; this means that at any one time, young children and other adults will be in the building. Profanity,vulgar language and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Students are expected to be in class during class time. If a student needs to leave the class, they need to have a pass from their teacher with their destination recorded in their possession at all times. In the classroom, students are not to use profane language or display a lack of respect to the teacher at any time. Students are encouraged to speak to the teacher if he/she is in disagreement over an issue and to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. Back to contents
Illegal Substance Possession
Possession, use, or appearance of being under the influence of; alcoholic beverages, narcotics, hallucinogens, inhalants, amphetamines, barbiturates, anabolic steroids, marijuana, controlled substances, designer drugs or mood/behavior-altering chemicals and prescription drugs for which the student does not have a prescription, as well as look-alikes or what is represented as a drug or alcohol product during times when students are subject to the authority of the school. Back to contents
Illness and Medication
If a student becomes ill during school, the student should notify the classroom teacher and report to the high school office. Should the student choose to go home, the student will be encouraged to call their parent/guardian to arrange transportation. Whenever possible, arrangements may be made for the student to rest in a quiet area for a short period of time. Parents are required to notify the office when their student has medication that needs to be taken during the school day. Students that need to have medication administered during the day by one of our staff members must have a "Permission to administer medication" form on file in the office. Back to contents
Incentives/Recognition Programs
As a means of encouraging students to place education high on their priority list, the Portage Community High School is offering incentives to encourage academics and attendance. Prizes will be awarded in a drawing for those students who meet the criteria. Staff reserves the right to remove a student from the drawing if behavior during the term has resulted in suspension(s).
1. At the end of the term, those students with "A's, B's" and "C's" will have their name entered into the drawing based on the grades that they received.
2. At the end of the term, those students who have met the attendance requirement will receive a certain amount of chances in the drawing according to the number of absences they have accumulated.
3. Student of the Month program sponsored by the Portage Rotary. This event rewards 5 to 6 students each month based on nominations made by teachers and staff. Students are nominated based on grades, attendance, attitude and participation in the classroom. The students and parents will be invited to have lunch with the teacher that nominated them and other Community High School staff. Students receive gift certificate, photos and letters of praise for their portfolios. Back to contents
Insurance
During the school year the Portage Board of Education makes available a voluntary student accident insurance program. The benefit options are available in the fall. Coverage provided can help decrease the burden of unexpected medical and dental expenses, including those left unpaid due to family deductibles and co-payments. Please watch for the enrollment forms at the start of the school year. Back to contents
Lockers
Lockers are available to all students, and they are expected to keep the locker in good condition. The school reserves the right to search lockers at any time. Back to contents
Parking
The student parking lot is located behind the west wing of the building. Our building is an extremely busy place; consequently students are asked to maintain caution while traveling to and from the parking lot. Excessive speed, and careless/reckless driving will result in the student losing the privilege to drive to school and or suspension from school in addition to a formal police complaint. Students are to enter the building through our new lobby or through the doors located at the end of the north wing.
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Phone Use/Student Messages
Students are not allowed to use the office or classroom phones, so they should always have change on hand to use the pay phone located in the Community High School hall. Students receiving emergency messages from friends or family will be notified, if possible, when the message comes in. Back to contents
Recreation/Events
School sponsored events may include, but are not limited to motivational speakers, field trips, and assemblies at other schools. Opportunities are also provided for students to participate/compete with other programs in Basketball, Volleyball and Softball. Students are encouraged to participate in school activities, and eligibility for off campus events must be met in order to participate. Back to contents
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for graduates from Portage Community High School to attend Davenport College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College . See Krista Wirt for applications/advice and further information.
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Search of Vehicles
Any vehicle entering the school campus is subject to search by school authorities and by law enforcement personnel working with them. Such search may be conducted without warrant for any reasonable purpose when reasonable suspicion of a threat to a safe and orderly environment exists. Reasonable suspicion occurs when school officials, from a combination of particularly facts and experience, feel the degree of intrusion is warranted by the likelihood that evidence will be found. Search of the vehicle includes all compartments and components thereof. Once search begins, the person in control of the vehicle shall not be permitted to remove it from the premises during the reasonable duration of the search. The school parking lots are under video camera surveillance at all times, as are the building themselves. Back to contents
Sexual Harassment and Intimidation
Portage Community High School shall maintain an environment for all employees and students that is free from discriminatory and/or sexual insult, intimidation, and harassment. Sexual assault is any physical sexual contact which a person has not given consent to. Sexual harassment is any unwanted sexual gesture or language directed towards another person. Any student who feels that they have been sexually harassed/assaulted by another student should report the conduct to a teacher or an office staff person immediately. Back to contents
Signing Out
In order to "sign out" during the school day, students A-L report to 121 and M-Z report to 129. At this time they will be required to state their purpose for leaving, as well as the time they plan on arriving back to school. This information must be VERIFIABLE. Any student leaving school without following this procedure will be suspended for the remainder of that day. Students should report to the BRC to sign in when they are arriving to school after 8am. Back to contents
Skipping Class
Each year our enrollment continues to grow. Therefore, it has become a privilege to be enrolled in the Community High School Program. We would like all students completely interested in attending school and learning, however, we know that this is not always the case. If a student enrolls in a class and they feel that it is not meeting their particular needs, we suggest that they come to the office to switch to another class. A student that continually skips the class will eventually lose their seat in the class.
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Student Assistance
The Portage Community High School Student Service Coordinators & Social Workers will provide confidential assistance to students who have education concerns and personal issues such as drug/alcohol abuse, homelessness and family/personal problems. Referrals may also be made to outside agencies. Teachers may also be considered a resource. A crisis team is available to handle grief issues if and when they arise. Back to contents
Student On Campus Care (SOCC)
The Student On Campus Care program is operated by the Curious Kids Day Care program. Child care is free to students who attend classes regularly. The program offers excellent care and fun activities for young children. The day care is filled on a first come, first served policy. Back to contents
Student Search And Seizure
School authorities may search a student, student lockers and student automobiles and may seize any illegal or unauthorized materials discovered in the search. Failure to permit searches and seizures as provided in this policy will be considered grounds for disciplinary action. Back to contents
Tardies
Students have time between classes which we consider to be adequate to attend to personal needs and to get back to class on time. Students who continually arrive late to class may not be allowed to enter past a certain time, and will have to report to Room 129 for the remainder of the hour. Students may receive a "UA" in a class due to inappropriate behavior, not returning from breaks, leaving class without permission, or for reasons deemed appropriate by the teacher. An unexcused absence cannot be made up. Back to contents
Tobacco
Possession or use of tobacco in any form including look-alike or what is represented as tobacco, or in the presence of visible smoke, is prohibited on school property. Back to contents
Transportation Issues
All Portage Public School District residents are eligible to access the Portage Public School transportation service, at the discretion of the Community High School and Transportation Department. A positive attitude and exceptional behavior are required when using this service is an inability to comply will result in loss of privilege and possible school suspension.
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All non-Portage Public School District students are required to have their own source of transportation. Please contact someone in the High School Office to explore transportation options. A limited supply of Metro Transit bus tokens are available for students in good standing, and bus schedules are available in the main lobby. Back to contents
Tutoring Program
Free and after school tutoring will be available to all students. Qualified staff and volunteers will assist students in specific academic areas of concern. The Portage Community High School reserves the right to exclude students from tutoring based on their behavior and the availability of space in the program. Back to contents
Visitations
Parents are encouraged to make arranged visitation to our school. Probation Officers, Caseworkers and Protective Services personnel may also visit students. No other visitors will be allowed without permission from the high school staff. All visitors must report directly to the office. Back to contents
Weapon Free Schools
Expulsion is recommended for every student possessing, using, threatens to use; transferring any weapon/instrument capable of inflicting harm or considered dangerous by the administration. The term weapon includes such items as a firearm, tazers, stun guns, (including a soft pellet gun or BB gun), dagger, dirk, stiletto, knife with a blade over three (3) inches in length, pocket knife opened by a mechanical device, iron bar, brass knuckles, paint ball guns, etc (Weapons-Free School Zone Policy #5360) (State Law)
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